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Indicator 6: Preschool Environments for Students with IEPs (Ages 3 – 5)

What Is Indicator 6?

Indicator 6 looks at children who have IEPs and receive most of their services and support in:

1. Regular preschool setting
2. Separate special education setting
3. Home-based education setting (new)

Why Is Indicator 6 Important?

As much as possible, children of all abilities should be taught in the same classroom (IDEA, 2004). According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, this opportunity:

• Helps children develop compassion
• Helps with children's social skills and language

The table below shows the percent of students in each educational setting.

Changes to Indicator 6

For the new FFY2020–FFY2025 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report, two changes were made to Indicator 6. First, a new sub-indicator was added. The new sub-indicator, 6C, looks at the percentage of preschool children whose educational environment is the home.

The second change is that states can set targets for each age OR states can set a single target (for the whole group of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds in preschool) for each sub-indicator. For 6C, states can also set a discrete target or identify a target range.

Because of the changes to Indicator 6, Massachusetts identified new baselines and targets.

Additional Information:

• Natural Environments

• Considering LRE

Learn More about Indicator # 6:

• Indicator 6 PowerPoint

• Indicator 6 Narrated PowerPoint

Last Updated: March 21, 2023